Violin bow



r 8, 1931- R. A. KRATOCHWILL 5,407

VIOLIN BOW k Filed March 26, 1930 gwwntoc [0001/71 A KIUMY/W/ZL Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES RUDOLPH A. KRATOCHWILL, OF GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE VIOLIN BOW Application filed March 26, 1930. Serial No. 439,146.

This invention appertains to bows for the Violin, cello, string bass and the like, and more particularly to the hairs for the bow.

Heretofore horse hair has been generally used for violin and like bows and while this hair has been givin successful results certain inherent disadvantages are possessed thereby.

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide a material new to bows which will possess all of the good features of horse hair and none of the disadvantages thereof, said material giving a better tone than horse hair with less wear on the violin strings.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of the use of artificial silk for the use in the hair of violin bows, said silk costing materially less than horse hair and at the same time giving a better tone and lasting a greater length of time than horse hair.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of means for treating the silk so as to permit the effective use thereof for the hairs of the bow and to add to the longevity thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bow provided with my improved hair.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a bow provided with my improved hair.

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating a single strand of the bow hair constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail transverse section through a single strand of my improved hair.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherer in similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates a violin or like bow and B the improved hair therefor. The bow A is of the conventional or any preferred construction and will not be described in detail and the hairs B are clamped in position adjacent to the bow ends in the ordinary manner.

In accordance with my invention I make the hair B out of artificial silk and treat the silk in a predetermined way, as will now be described.

In the making of the individual strands of hair for the bow, I take three plies 5 of the silk just as it comes out of the spinning machine and twist these plies together to form the single strand as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The individual strands are stretched so that each of the same can hold from one and one-half to two pounds and the strands are then cut in the. desired length and as many strands can be used as the bow holds horse hair, usually one hundred and thirty-five to one hundred and forty strands. These strands are placed in the bow in a dry condition.

After the strands are placed in the bow, the same are dipped in a. solution of seven ounces of water and one ounce of gum arabic or any other solution might be used which will make the silk durable. This forms a coating 6 about each individual strand. The strands are allowed to become perfectly dry.

hen the strands are dry I apply powdered rosin thereto for the first time and after the bow is in use the ordinary rosin in boxes may be applied thereto. The gum arabic together with the powdered rosin will make a rough surface on the silk, as a substitute for the minute protuberances found on horse hair. With the hair constructed of artificial silk in accordance with my invention a durable bow will be had which will give a better tone and which can be placed upon the market at a less cost than the ordinary bow and in which the hairs can be replaced at a less cost than the ordinary hairs and in a simple and more expeditious manner.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A bow for violin and like instruments having the hairs thereof made entirely of artificial silk.

2. A bow for violin and like instruments having the long hairs thereof made of artificial silk.

, 3. A bow for violin and like instruments having the hair thereof made from artificial silk, the strands consisting of a plurality of twisted plies of artificial silk being individually provided with a protecting coating,

4. Hair for-violin and like bows comprising a plurality of individual strandsma de from artificial sillgeach strand-consisting of threeplies of silk twisted together and coated.

5. The method of making hair for violin and llk bows consisting n twlstlng three j plies of artificial silk together to forma strand, saturating the twisted strands in a solution of water and gum arabic, drying the,

strands and applying powdered rosin thereto. 6. A bow forviol ns and like instruments having the hairs thereot made-entirely of fibre strands.

7. A bow for violins and like instruments having the longitudinal strands thereof formed of fibre and wrapped with other strands of fibre.

In testimony whereof I my-signature.

EUDOLPH A. KRATOGH W-ILL. 

